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1999 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

180 reports with mileage · 40 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

Suspension complaints

61 reports
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198,730 miles · Jul 1, 2015
SteeringStructureSuspension

FRAME SNAPPED AT THE DRIVERS REAR TORSION BAR DUE TO FRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. I JUST HAD THIS CHECKED AND A LITTLE RUST TO THE FRAME WAS APPARENT BECAUSE IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE AND NOT SO APPARENT. ONCE IT BEGAN TO DECAY IT JUST BECAME MOSTLY RUST DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF FRAME ONLY OPTION. CONTACTED…

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FRAME SNAPPED AT THE DRIVERS REAR TORSION BAR DUE TO FRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. I JUST HAD THIS CHECKED AND A LITTLE RUST TO THE FRAME WAS APPARENT BECAUSE IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE AND NOT SO APPARENT. ONCE IT BEGAN TO DECAY IT JUST BECAME MOSTLY RUST DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF FRAME ONLY OPTION. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO HELP ON THIS MODEL (4RUNNER) BUT IS ON OTHER TRUCK MODELS, SAME FRAMES SAME YEAR..

NHTSA ODI #10731610

235,935 miles · Apr 14, 2015
StructureSuspension

FRAME RUSTED ON INSIDE SURFACE AND AT BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. DRIVERS SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND ALLOWED AXLE TO MOVE AND TIRE TO CONTACT INNER FENDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE ENTIRE CENTER SECTION OF BOTH INNER FRAME RAILS H…

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FRAME RUSTED ON INSIDE SURFACE AND AT BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. DRIVERS SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND ALLOWED AXLE TO MOVE AND TIRE TO CONTACT INNER FENDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE ENTIRE CENTER SECTION OF BOTH INNER FRAME RAILS HAD NEW PLATE STEEL WELDED IN PLACE TO REPAIR THE ORIGINAL RUSTED STEEL. REINFORCEMENTS WERE WELDED ON THE INNER AND OUTER FRAME FOR BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT THESE REPAIRS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY ON A 14 YEAR OLD (AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT) VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705563

245,000 miles · Apr 10, 2015
SteeringStructureSuspension

ORIGINAL OWNER, NOT LOCATED IN THE "RUST BELT" TOOK 4RUNNER TO EXHAUST SHOP TO HAVE A NEW EXHAUST PUT ON AND ONCE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE YOU COULD SEE THAT THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH NEAR WHERE THE TRAILING ARM BRACKETS ARE AND ON THE INSIDE/UNDERNEATH OF THE FRAME. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GREAT CONDITION BECAUS…

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ORIGINAL OWNER, NOT LOCATED IN THE "RUST BELT" TOOK 4RUNNER TO EXHAUST SHOP TO HAVE A NEW EXHAUST PUT ON AND ONCE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE YOU COULD SEE THAT THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH NEAR WHERE THE TRAILING ARM BRACKETS ARE AND ON THE INSIDE/UNDERNEATH OF THE FRAME. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GREAT CONDITION BECAUSE THE 4RUNNER HAS BEEN TAKE CARE OF AND MAINTAINED. THERE WILL BE ABOUT A 2 FOOT SECTION OF FRAME THAT WILL NEED TO BE CUT OUT AS WELL AS NEW TRAILING ARM BRACKETS TO BE CUT AND WELDED IN. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WORTH SCRAP VALUE, WHEN IT SHOULD BE WORTH ABOUT $5000. THE INTERIOR IS PERFECT, IT RUNS GREAT, AND EVERYTHING WORKS AS IT SHOULD BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME IS CRUMBLING. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA. I HAVE DOMESTIC VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLDER WITH MORE MILES THAT LOOK NOTHING LIKE THIS. THEY RECALL TUNDRAS, TACOMAS, AND SEQOUIAS, BUT NOT THE 4RUNNER? GIVE ME A BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704958

152,525 miles · Mar 5, 2015
StructureSuspension

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692307

146,200 miles · Feb 13, 2015
SteeringStructureSuspension

THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER REAR LINK FELL OFF THE FRAME DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT TO. MECHANIC WON'T EVEN ATTEMPT A REPAIR. THE FRAME IS TOO RUSTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I BOUGHT IT USED AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 2.5 YEARS. TOYOTA HAS NO RECALL ON IT AND CAN NOT ASSIST ME, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE…

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER REAR LINK FELL OFF THE FRAME DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT TO. MECHANIC WON'T EVEN ATTEMPT A REPAIR. THE FRAME IS TOO RUSTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I BOUGHT IT USED AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 2.5 YEARS. TOYOTA HAS NO RECALL ON IT AND CAN NOT ASSIST ME, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE TACOMA AND OTHER MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683353

155,000 miles · Nov 18, 2014
Suspension

THE FRAME METAL AND BRACKET THAT CONNECTS THE FRAME TO THE REAR AXLE HAS ROTTED OFF COMPLETELY MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE WHOLE REAR AXLE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10658910

298,912 miles · Aug 29, 2014
SteeringSuspensionWheelsCrash

WHILE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO COME OFF THE CAR FRAME. SPEED WAS THE POSTED 55 MPH. NO OTHER TRAFFIC, THANK GOODNESS. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A STUPID DESIGN. A MAJOR COMPONENT IF IT FAILS SHOULD NOT CAUSE THIS TYPE OF CAT…

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WHILE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO COME OFF THE CAR FRAME. SPEED WAS THE POSTED 55 MPH. NO OTHER TRAFFIC, THANK GOODNESS. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A STUPID DESIGN. A MAJOR COMPONENT IF IT FAILS SHOULD NOT CAUSE THIS TYPE OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IT DANGEROUS AND TOYOTA SHOULD WARN THE CONSUMER OF THIS STUPID DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629378

217,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
StructureSuspension

THE FRAME HAS SERIOUS INTERNAL RUST ROT. THE EXTERIOR OF THE FRAME APPEARS RELATIVELY RUST FREE, BUT THE INTERIOR IS FILLED WITH RUST AND CRUMBLES WHEN PUSHED WITH A FINGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578501

185,000 miles · Mar 24, 2014
StructureSuspension

FRAME RUST IS MORE SEVERE THAN IT SHOULD BE FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574381

125,000 miles · Mar 17, 2014
StructureSuspension

THE VEHICLES FRAME, IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT. THIS POINT ON THE FRAME SECURES THE LOWER LINK OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. IF THIS BRACKET SEPARATES, AN ACCIDENT WOULD LIKELY OCCUR. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS RUST FREE AND THE FRAME IS NOT EXPECTED TO ROT …

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THE VEHICLES FRAME, IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT. THIS POINT ON THE FRAME SECURES THE LOWER LINK OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. IF THIS BRACKET SEPARATES, AN ACCIDENT WOULD LIKELY OCCUR. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS RUST FREE AND THE FRAME IS NOT EXPECTED TO ROT WITHIN THE VEHICLES LIFESPAN. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST WI REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572979

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.